Sunday, February 11, 2018

ANMF – It’s time we had a nurse in Federal Parliament

It’s time we had a nurse in Federal Parliament
Monday 5th February, 2018

The country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has welcomed the announcement that Ged Kearney will run for the federal seat of Batman, saying it was time nurses, midwives and carers finally had a voice in our national parliament.

Ms Kearney, the former Federal Secretary of the ANMF and President of the ACTU will contest the upcoming by-election for the inner-Melbourne electorate.

A/Federal Secretary, Annie Butler, said the ANMF and its members were delighted that Ms Kearney, a former registered nurse, was standing for federal parliament.

“This is great news for all of our members,” Ms Butler said today.

“As a former registered nurse and a former Federal Secretary of our union, Ged has hands on experience working in healthcare and aged care.

“She understands the daily pressures our members are facing each and every day, in public and private hospitals and aged care facilities.

“Ged also understands the issues that need to be resolved for the sake of patients and their families. For example, the overwhelming workloads faced by many of our members working in aged care are just not understood let alone supported by our current politicians.

“Without mandated ratios, nurses are run of their feet and in too many facilities, there is often just one registered nurse caring for more than 100 residents. This is unacceptable.

“As a former nurse, Ged realises it’s now crucial that we have mandated ratios and staff with the right mix of skills in order to create a high-class residential aged care system. But we need the support of our politicians to get this done.

“That’s why the ANMF and our members are excited that Ged now has the opportunity to finally ensure that frontline nurses, midwives and carers have a voice in federal parliament.”

The ANMF, with over 268,500 members, is the industrial and professional voice for nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing in Australia.